Since I'm not building to the original model size, I just enlarged the plan from the magazine article at Kinkos to 36" wingspan. I took 2 copies, one for cutting cardstock jibs, which I finished last night.

If you're going to use the AMA Plans service...it's a Fred Reese design, AMA Plan # 478 from the June 1985 issue. I think the rolled plan is about $10 with shipping and handling, then an enlargement at Kinkos is about $10-ish.

Until your question, I hadn't searched for other Electric Buttercups. The original designer had plans for a 50" stick built geared 400 version published in RCM, before he passed away. Fred Reese is an AMA Hall of Fame member.

Images

mikeythev, That is one nice looking plane. B y changing the color so drastically it tends to not look like the Buttercup. Notice I said "tends to". It certainly would look more like the Buttercup if you do the window blackout as per original.

This plane could be made to do many things with its style. I do mean style! It grabs your attention right away (at least it does mine). This plane could have another set of wings and still look like it should.

my wife made this from plans around 1987. Isn't life great..!..all the parts she constructed. All I did was put the tail on square and put the radio in,Oops, I did the flying lol
.She covered it too. She had covered my "Gentle Lady" aboout a month earlier. I still have it,Still new, never been flown yet from back then..she hates yellow so the buttercup is purple and she calls it the "Iris" instead of Buttercup.. I launched it one time without the RX being turned on. Lucked out, it was trimmed right and just made gentle climbing loops untill it ran out of gas and gently floated back down. It's still on my wall about 8 feet behind me with 10 other planes from the 80's

There is a beautiful red white and blue aeromaster bipe about 48 inches, with stars just above my head hanging on 3 chains, never been flown.... sighs

I have , a "quaker" that is almost done from plans from a Ben Buckle kit that I built back then. I'm going to teach 3 grand kids how to fly it this summer, It has a Os 25 with a big prop, will just put put around the sky for them.
did i mention I love airplanes

I like your buttercup story with no Rx being turned on. I love planes too.

I just added a set of landing gear to the Buttercup and can't wait to test it. I purchased a larger battery, 480mAh, and two different props to test. I'm hoping to get 25 minute flights still, but I want to to "touch and go's" all day long.

I'm currently working on getting ideas for variations on the Buttercup plan.

I have the plans and have built the 50" span version published on one of the mags.

I didn't use the geared 400 like it said since that is a little out of date and heavy. Instead I put a GWS 350C with the C gearing in it. Very low amp draw and high power. Flights were very nice and relaxing with touch and goes four 20 minutes on KAN 950 cells.

By the way, using the above setup with my Buttercup, I'm getting 25 minute flights. That's right, 25 minutes on a 340mAh, 2 cell lipo. I'll have video for you soon.

It's been probably 17 years since I flew the Buttercup.With the o20 I'm thinking it flew a few minutes. 3 to 5 ? long time ago lol.. The 020 was ok. But I bought a new td020 to put on it, but didn't get around to it. Still have the TD in the drawer )
good flying All of you with your versions.

After I added the landing gear, I decided to upgrade the battery to a 480mAh instead of a 340mAh. It's still a 2 cell, but I'm hoping to still get long flights despite the small increase in weight. The new 480 doesn't weigh that much more than the old 340 anyway.

Flight performance is still superb. I've had to move the battery back further to keep the plane balanced properly. The landing gear on this little guy makes the plane even more fun that it already is. I used 0.055" piano wire with MPI 1.25" wheels. They are the "bomb diggity."

I must have done 10 touch and goes in a row today. I flew for over 20 minutes with plenty of battery left over. My Astroflight 109 stated it only put in 0.24A back in the battery. I'm calculating 40 minutes of flying!!!

Pics to follow soon.

I'm enjoying myself too much with this little plane. Come on good weather!!!